Image resonance in the many-body density of states at a metal surface

The electronic properties of a semi-infinite metal surface without a bulk gap are studied by a formalism that is able to account for the continuous spectrum of the system. The density of states at the surface is calculated within the GW approximation of many-body perturbation theory. We demonstrate the presence of an unoccupied surface resonance peaked at the position of the first image state. The resonance encompasses the whole Rydberg series of image states and cannot be resolved into individual peaks. Its origin is the shift in spectral weight when many-body correlation effects are taken into account

Electronic properties of metal induced gap states at insulator/metal interfaces -- dependence on the alkali halide and the possibility of excitonic mechanism of superconductivity

Motivated from the experimental observation of metal induced gap states (MIGS) at insulator/metal interfaces by Kiguchi {\it et al.} [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 90}, 196803 (2003)], we have theoretically investigated the electronic properties of MIGS at interfaces between various alkali halides and a metal represented by a jellium with the first-principles density functional method. We have found that, on top of the usual evanescent state, MIGS generally have a long tail on halogen sites with a $p_z$-like character, whose penetration depth ($\lambda$) is as large as half the lattice constant of bulk alkali halides. This implies that $\lambda$, while little dependent on the carrier density in the jellium, is dominated by the lattice constant (hence by energy gap) of the alkali halide, where $\lambda_{\rm LiF} < \lambda_{\rm LiCl} < \lambda_{\rm LiI}$. We also propose a possibility of the MIGS working favorably for the exciton-mediated superconductivity.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figure

Challenges in QCD matter physics - The Compressed Baryonic Matter experiment at FAIR

Substantial experimental and theoretical efforts worldwide are devoted to explore the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter. At LHC and top RHIC energies, QCD matter is studied at very high temperatures and nearly vanishing net-baryon densities. There is evidence that a Quark-Gluon-Plasma (QGP) was created at experiments at RHIC and LHC. The transition from the QGP back to the hadron gas is found to be a smooth cross over. For larger net-baryon densities and lower temperatures, it is expected that the QCD phase diagram exhibits a rich structure, such as a first-order phase transition between hadronic and partonic matter which terminates in a critical point, or exotic phases like quarkyonic matter. The discovery of these landmarks would be a breakthrough in our understanding of the strong interaction and is therefore in the focus of various high-energy heavy-ion research programs. The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR will play a unique role in the exploration of the QCD phase diagram in the region of high net-baryon densities, because it is designed to run at unprecedented interaction rates. High-rate operation is the key prerequisite for high-precision measurements of multi-differential observables and of rare diagnostic probes which are sensitive to the dense phase of the nuclear fireball. The goal of the CBM experiment at SIS100 (sqrt(s_NN) = 2.7 - 4.9 GeV) is to discover fundamental properties of QCD matter: the phase structure at large baryon-chemical potentials (mu_B > 500 MeV), effects of chiral symmetry, and the equation-of-state at high density as it is expected to occur in the core of neutron stars. In this article, we review the motivation for and the physics programme of CBM, including activities before the start of data taking in 2022, in the context of the worldwide efforts to explore high-density QCD matter.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures. Published in European Physical Journal

A Collaborative Data Management Infrastructure for Climate Data Analysis

Researchers in climate research need collaborative infrastructures to handle the growing amount of data. These infrastructures have to support users in finding, accessing and sharing climate data for data analysis activities and can provide higher level services for data life cycle management such as metadata generation, persistent data product identification, data description and sharing. The Collaborative Climate Community Data and Processing Grid infrastructure (C3Grid) provides a national infrastructure for climate data access and processing. It is now evolving from a prototype to a production infrastructure providing valuable services to users. We will put special emphasis on those aspects supporting users to manage complex multi model analysis tasks of e.g. CMIP5 data and sharing of their analysis results

Modulated 3D cross-correlation Dynamic Light Scattering of Silver Nanoparticle Inks

International audienc

An European Project on Web-Based Education in Nanoelectronics

The NanoSkills project is intended to support the development of sectoral qualifications system and frameworks by definition of qualifications of engineers and technicians in nanotechnologies in terms of learning outcomes to promote transparency and recognition of vocational education and training (VET). The project brings together VET providers, higher education (HE) institutions, small and medium enterprises, professional organisations to assess future skills needs and promote business input into course design, as stated in the "New Skills for New Jobs" initiative and to develop special courses for upgrading knowledge in the sector of nanoelectronics technologies. Through job analysis the necessary knowledge, skills and competences in nanotechnology engineering were defined. Nine courses are designed by the best laboratory/department in the field which dispose with the necessary infrastructure and facilities for practical work. These are e-learning courses and m-learning performance support modules. Tests of the ECVET application to VET qualifications and recommendations how to enhance permeability and progression between VET and practiceoriented HE will be done during the pilot tes